(A rough outline for an activist CDPTV; 3/8/94 draft; BG).


     Channel Eleven is worth reforming:
     =================================

     Extremely valuable license:
      - From the U.S., via the FCC, to serve metro Chicago (10 million people!);
      - Laws allow broadcasting only for noncommercial community service;
      - Full power, full time;
      - 11 is a superb channel number:
        - Handy for remembering and for station browsing and jumping;
        - VHF frequency for sharp picture reception over widest area;
      - Many additional cable cities and satellite distribution.

     The Ancillary operations:
       - Program production; and leadership of production consortia;
       - Facilities and staff for rent;
       - Foreign and tape distribution of programs; Dial Magazine.

     Channel Eleven Already Has Significant Influence on:
       - A huge(!), very supportive, socially powerful viewing public;
       - PBS, CPB, Congress, major foundations (hundreds of millions of dollars,
          favorable laws, regulators' good will, tax benefits);
       - Federal, state and local governments, educators at all levels, etc.;
       - All other public television and public radio stations nationally
          (especially in commercializing programs and production resources);
       - Corporations seeking public image control, advertising, tax breaks;
       - Staff and directors at many foundations sincerely trying to make the
          most efficientt donations for education and public service;
       - Its own influential board members, professional staff, and volunteers.

     Channel Eleven Already Has A Public Image and The Public's Expectations:
       - As a place for education and viewpoints not commercially controlled;
       - As a likely outlet for and sponsor of local independent producers;
       - As desiring to serve local interests, unlike national media cos.;
       - As especially sensitive to environmental, peace, and working people's
          interests, and covering such interests with documentaries;
       - As more motivated and free to reveal abuses of money and power;
       - As worthy of donations, volunteer time, awards, lightpost banners, etc.


     Strong tactics are available to reform and replace CETA:
     ========================================================

     Real competition (broadcasting on frequency VHF 11) is forbidden:
       - Besides being expensive and difficult, it would be illegal 'jamming,'
          a violation of U.S. law and international radio spectrum treaties.
       - Chicago Educational Television Association, the FCC and federal
          police would soon have all of us in prisons as co-conspirators.
       - As long as CETA still holds the FCC license for monopoly use of VHF
          11 in the extended Chicago metropolitan area, no one else can use it.

     Editorials, letters to editors, news columnists, broadcast editorials.

     Notices and ads widely about our positions, meetings, endorsers.

     Divert pledges to an escrow account (if not actual cash, then people's
     pledges not to contribute until there is a new board and policies).







     Stage public education events and distribute press releases:
       - Conferences for public education and organizational growth;
       - Project banned shows on CETA's office building wall;
       - Picketing and sit-ins at opportune times and places;
       - Public hearings by government and our own hearings.

     Timely press releases about specific shows scheduled or refused.

     'Poison' CETA's FCC public(?!) file with hundreds of critical letters.

     Call all Satellite Council donors asking them to make support conditional.

     Contact large numbers of Channel Eleven donors, volunteers, employees,
     and community groups abused or ignored by CETA.  Develop other 'moles.'


     Plan to replace the Chicago Educational Television Association:
     ==============================================================

     Implement the above tactics, insofar as we can identify volunteers, pro
     bono professionals, and cash for staffing and supplies.

     Coalition for Democracy in Public Television to have local FCC director
     to a meeting and demand reforms based on current laws, licensing processes,
     and regulations.

     Gather active members, wider mailing list, contributions.

     Coalition meetings to endorse descriptions of:
       - Inherent problems with CETA and its use of Channel Eleven;
       - Current list of demands; things we would do but CETA wont.
       - Proposed design of a new nonprofit corporation to improve the
          program schedule and other operations.

     Coalition acts as a steering committee, establishing the availability
     of a very large, much more representative, pool of citizen nominees for
     a 'New Channel Eleven Corporation' initial board of directors.

     Coalition must decide whenever CETA offers concessions:
       - Certain shows or series to be obtained or created;
       - Some current board members resign to let some of us 'inside;'
       - Current board members all step down by voting in our nominees.

     A spirited organizing convention this summer:
       - Vote 'whereases' and resolutions touting our positions;
       - Endorse initial incorporation charter and by-laws;
       - Nominees for our initial board of directors give speeches;
       - Elect initial directors;
       - Public relations, growth in members, energy.

     'New Channel Eleven Corporation' to assume our coalition's work:
       - Coalition veterans in all key positions;
       - Staffing, funding, volunteer & pro bono coordination;
       - Newsletters, shows, publicity;
       - Organizing and continued growth of public service and support.

                                    --o0o--